Shielding system for vapor-converters.



f E. F. SIPHER. SHIELDING SYSTEM FOR VAPOR CONVERTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUILZS` 1915.

Patented. July 16, 1918.

. mvENToR bww/za fJ/)Oe/f I ATTRNEY WITNESSES:

I STAES EDMUND P. SIPIIEP., or WILKINSBUR'G, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoIz. To WEsTINGHosE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

SHIELDING SYSTEM Fon VAPOR-CONVERTERS.

Speeication of Letters latent.

' Application filed August 28, 19,15*. Serial No. 47,900.

My invention relates.l to shielding systems for vapor'converters, and it has for its object to provide a system of the character 1ndicated that shall insure a u`n1form distribution of the power arc over all portions of the anode under widely varying amounts of load. My invention further relates to anodes particularly adapted to be employed with a shielding system of the character indicated.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view partially in elevation and partially in section, of a vapor converter embodying One form of my.invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, o an anode, together with its attendant shield, embodying a modification of my invention; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating a method of insulation that may be employed in the device of Figs. 1 and 2, if found desirable.

In the operation of vapor converters carrying relatively light loads, there is frequently a more or less uniform distributionv of the arc over a large portion of the anode surface but, when the load is increased to large amounts, there arises a Stringing phenomenon, the arc drawing together and concentrating upon a small spot on the anodef On the other hand, the converse phenomenon is frequently observed, the arc concentrating upon the more exposed portions of the anode at light load and spreading out over the anode surface to a greater and greater degree as the load increases By my invention, I provide a sli1eld for a large anode which tends to divide the arc thereto into a number of portions, each o f said portions being directed to a different zone of the anode, thus insuring a more uniform distribution of the load upon the anode and preventing over-heating of limited portions thereof.

In connection with a shielding system em bodying my invention, it is found desirable to employ anodes having elongated cylindrical shapes, and I find that an anode having the desired characteristics may be manufactured from a piece of hot-rolled steel shafting, the interior of `said shaft being bored out for the circulation of cooling Huid,

if desired, the close and homogeneous structure of metal of the character indicated preventing leakage from the cooling space.

Referring t0 the accompanying drawing for a more detailed understanding of my invention, I show the container of a vapor converter of the metal-case type at 4 in Fig. l. The container 4 is provided with a pair of anodes 5 and 6 and with a cathode 7, preferably composed of vaporizable reconlstru'cting material, such, for example, as

mercury or sodium. The anodes 5 and 6 and the cathode 7 are connected in a rectifier circuit of any usual form (not shown). The anodes 5 and 6 are preferably formed by boring out a piece of hot-rolled steel shafting and are provided with cooling tubes 13-13 for the circulation of fluid therethrough. The anodes 5 and 6 are further vprovided with shielding members, each of which comprises aninsulated cylindrical conducting casing 8 which is open at its lower end. A deflecting cone 9 of heat-resistant material is supported below each of the members 8 and is spaced therefrom to permit the entrance of a rectifying arc. plurality of conducting rings 10-104 are mounted coaxially with the anode 5 and are supported in any suitable manner, as by bolts 11-11 depending from the top of the member 8 and carrying suitable conducting Aspacing' members 12-12.

Having thus described the structure of a converter embodying my invention, the operation is as follows: the power arc between the cathode 7 and one of the 'anodes, as, for example, 5, enters between the members v8 and- 9 and passes up into the annular space between the member 8 and the rings 10. It is here diviied into a plurality of portions by the action of the rings 10 and. impingcs upon,v correspondino zones of the anode 5, thus insuring uniform distribution of the arc over the anode under various conditions of load. I nd that, under certain operating conditions, at light load, the greater portion of the arc passes between the lower' rings 10-10 to the lower portionof the anode hut, upon a load increase, after a .certain concentration of current at the active sur- Patented July 16, 1918, A

" 15 bein faceis reached, vportions of the arc ilo-wl through-higher and lhi her spaces and im- I .in accordance with 'Fig..2 wherein a cylinvr dricalfmember 8,- surrounding the anode,

' supports a plurality of coaxial rings 14.-14

at-the lower portion thereof, a diaphra m dis osed across the lower 'portion ofthe s iel A plurality of rings 10'.10

* "are mounted between the member 8', as shown in Figa-1.

" A powerarc, passing to an anode shielded as shownin-Fig. 2 is first broken upfinto a'number ofstreams-which pass upwardly f and are again separated -by the rings 10 before impin ng upon the anode.

In the m0 ication shown in Figs. 1 and as .m'ounted upon conducting bolts carrying V yconductive relation with each "conducting spacers sothat said rings are in other. It may frequently be desirable, however, to `insu- "late the conductingrings from eachother Hm y ig. .3, wherein the conductin ,'16'-16 aremounted upon a bolt-1 'i 'latedby a refractory insulating tube y rings'ltl being spaced apart b .40

f" 18 and 19 may be composed of r-lain or vsimilar material. v, i

sothat heavy current iiow through the rings, due to differences of potentials in difv f v ferent portions of the arc, maybe obviated.

I ma therefore constructl the shield as shown rings insu- 18, the

insulating member'si19-v-19. he members quartz, porce- Th'r0ughout this description, I'Ihave ex plained the .action of vlfof-theunderlyingy henomena.- I desire it to be vdistinctly un 'eration but merel an understanding oftheinvention'.

While I ,haveshown my invention in its preferred form, itwill be understood that 1t is' susce tible .of various minor changes and modi cations, '5 and I desire, `therefore that muy Such umaation's 'shall be imposed claims.

vthereupon as. are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forthin the appended I claimas my invention: i `1. In a vapor converterthe combination with an elon distinct zones.v

anode and the refractory vmy device in accord ance with the theory. which' seems most, plausible in view of thepresent knowledge.

erstood, however, that I do not confine myself to said theory of oppresent the sameto ald ated electrode, of a shielding device there orso' shaped'as'to cause the arc to impinge thereupon a plurality ofv In a vapor converter, the combination with -an elongated electrode, of va shielding device therefor comprisin a. plurality of encircling members, where y an 4arc to said electrode will be caused to impinge thereupon in a plurality of distinct zones.

3. In a vapor converter, the combination with a cathode, of an elongated anode radiating therefrom, and a shielding device associated with said anode and comprising a plurality of members encircling the same so that an arc is forced to impinge upon said anode in a plurality of zones.

with a cathode, of an elongated anode radiating therefr0m,'and a shielding device associated therewith and comprising, a plural- 4. In a vapor converter, the combination` ity Aof membersl encircling the same so that.`

an arc is forced to impingeupon said anode 1n a plurality of zones, the zones nearest -the Acathode alone being active during light loads and more and more distant zones becoming active as the loadincreases. @5,An electrode sh-ield for -a vapor converter including a mounted ringsof re ractory material, said rings approaching so lurality of coaxially near to the anode sur` Y f face as to substantially preclude the coaa 7. I n a vapor converter, the combination i with an elongated anode, of'a shield therefor comprising a plurality of refractory rin s mounted coaxlally therewith, and a; baie member across'v the end of said electrode.

8. Ina vapor converter, the combination with an elongated anode', offashield therefor including a plurality of refractoryrings mounted coaxially therewith, a baiiie memb'e'r' across the end of said electrode, and a cylindrical membersurrounding said rings and. said baiiie member and spaced therefrom. A

9. In a vapor 4converter the combination with an elongated anode, of\a shield therefor `including a plurality of refractor rings mounted coaxiall therewith, aba e memberacross the end7 of said electrode, a cylinydrical member surrounding said rings and said baffle member, and a baiiie member across the end of said cylindrical lmember and spaced therefrom.

' 10. A casing member for an anode shield comprising a cylindrical member surroundlurality of coaxially ing the anode proper, an arc-admitting member mounted 0nthe end thereof and comprising a plurality of spaced coaxially mounted rings of refractory material, and' a baille member across tem therefor comprising a plurality of spaced rings surrounding the anode, a. baffle member across the end ofthe cylinder determined by said rings, a cylindrical casing surrounding and spaced Jfrom said rings and bafile member, a, plurality of spaced rings mounted on the end of said cylinder, and a ba'lie member across the end of the cylinder determinedby said'last mentioned rings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of Aug EDMUND F. SIPHER. 

